More Cities for El Al Urged

June 26, 1978

WASHINGTON (Jun. 25)

Sen. Charles Percy (R. III.) has urged Secretary of State Cyrus Vance to become “personally involved” in negotiations for the U.S. to approve new landing rights for EI AI Israel airlines in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and Boston.

In a letter to Vance disclosed by Percy’s office, the Senator said the Israeli government has already communicated to the U.S. government a new “open skies” aviation policy that should remove any objections to the approval of the new air service. Since 1950, EI AI has been limited to landing in New York.

“Your involvement would demonstrate to both the Israeli and the American people that our government is just as concerned about planes of peace as we are with planes of war–planes of peace not armed with rockets, but instead bearing good will and friendship, “Percy wrote.

The State Department, the Department of Transportation and the Civil Aeronautics Board will participate with EI AI in the negotiations which begin tomorrow.